Vacuum holding device for garment steaming apparatus



Aug- 7, 1951 J. c. SHAW 2,562,956

VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE FOR GARMENT STEAMING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l KNVENTOR A JULIAN C. SHAW A BY ,W/MAMM ATTORN EYS I Aug. 7, 1951 J, C, SHAW 2,562,956

VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE FOR GARMENT STEAMING APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HGr@ ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1951 J. c, SHAW 2,562,956

VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE FOR GARMENT STEAMING APPARATUS I A 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 26, 1949 INVENTOR JULIAN C. SHAW ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 7, 1951 VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE FOR GARMENT STEAMING APPARATUS Julian Shaw, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cinclnnatl, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,616

20 Claims. l

This invention relates to method and apparatus for steaming and nishing garments, and more particularly to a method and that form of apparatus in which the steaming and iinishing operations occur while the ygarment is dressed or supported upon a hollow foraminous form. The present application is a continuation in part of my prior now abandoned application for Vacuum Holding Device for Garment Steaming Apparatus, Serial No. 780,260, filed October 16, 1947, to which reference may be had if desirable or necessary.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of nishing garments in which, after dressing the garment in proper lay upon a hollow foraminous form, a stream of steam, water vapour or other moisture laden gaseous medium is caused to flow outwardly through certainA areas of the garment, and then inwardly through other areas, thus to fully steam all areas but more especially the thickened areas such as along the edges of coat tails, at the lapels, and along the button and button hole front edges, and then, after steaming, and without chance of disturbing the lay, a. stream of drying air is caused to follow the same path, first outwardly and then inwardly, through the garment, to set it permanently in the desired form or shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved garment nishing apparatus including a hollow foraminous form upon which the garment is laid or dressed, together with means for causing the flow of a stream of gaseous treating medium, such as steam, water vapour lor coldvor hot air, outwardly through certain .areas or regions of the garment and inwardly through others, thus to effectively steam, dry or nish all areas while holding the garment firmly in a predetermined set or lay from which it is not permitted to escape.

Another object is to provide improved garment finishing means including a'hollow foraminous form upon which the garment is dressed and to which it is held by a suction or vacuum effect, together with means for blowingv steam outwardly through certain areas of the form for moistening purposes.

Another object is to provide improved means for utilizing a vacuum or suction eiect for holding the garment, or parts thereof, ingproperly dressed position uponthe form.

Another Objectis to provide improved vacuum operated garment'holding means, including simple, effective and easily operated control means.

Still another object is to provide improved Vacuum holding means of such form as to be effective upon those portions of the garment most likely to curl or move away from their desired dress or setup, to wit, the edge portions, front, back, and bottom, or lapels, as of a mans coat or outer garment.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, partly broken out and in section, of one suitable embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2 2,

` Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the front edge holder;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 4 4, Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation showing a mans coat dressed on the form with the front coat edges held in place on the vacuum holder;

Fig. 6 is a View, corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing only the lower portion, of a modified form of the invention;

F Figa. 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 1 1,

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, on the line 8 8, Fig. 9, showing another form; lmlFig. 9 is a sectional plan view on the line'B-B,

Fig 10 is a detail section on the line IU I0, Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a partial front elevation, showing a coat dressed upon the form;

Fig. 12 is a View corresponding to Fig. 8, showing the upper portion of still another form;

Fig. 13 is a detail section on the line l3 |3, Fig. l2, and f Fig. 14 is a similar view, illustrating a modication. i

According to the method of the present invention, the garment to be finished is first laid, dressed or arranged upon a hollow foraminous form of suitable construction, which Vsimulates the shape of the garment (such as the human torso when the garment is a coat) and not only holds the garment in the proper lay but also enables gaseous media to be caused to flow through it in the desired manner. While the garment is thus held or supported, a stream of gaseous treating medium, such as steam, water vapour, or other moistensing agent, is caused to flow out'- wardly from the hollow chamber within the form outwardly through it and through certain areas or regions of the garment, and then back through other areas or regions and by way of channels or passages other than said chamber to an outlet. Thus the same steam or vapour stream treats all parts of. the garment, but by now through it in opposite directions in different areas or regions. Where the garment is thinner, such as in the body of a coat, the ow is outward. Where it is thicker, as along the front edges and. along the lapels, the iiow is inward, tending to lay thev nap.

Similar effects occur when dry air alone, either cold or hot, is passed through the same chamber and channels and passages Thus the garment is thoroughly moistened andl dried, without any chance or reason for disturbing its lay, during either moistening or drying, or between the two, and emerges, well iinished, in proper form or shape.

The form may be of any suitable kind, so long as it is foraminous and thus permits the flow through it of steam, air or other gas. For example, it may be either a exible hollow cloth bag which when blown up simulates torso shape, or it may be rigid, made of woven wire or perforated thin sheet metal. The drawings show both forms.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus shown includes a hollow, chambered base Il! having a floor I I below its chamber I2., which communicates with. an ai-r supply duct I3 and an air outlet or discharge opening I4; Upon an annular iiange I5 of the base, surrounding open-- ing I4, are mounted several upright bars IG which support a neckband or collar form I'I, from which depends the form I8. This is roughly of torso form and is here made of suitable flexible foraininousvmaterial, such as a textile fabric. Its lower edge is clamped or otherwise secured to base ange I5. Its upper end and the sleeve holes are closed.

Duct I3 is provided with suitable air heating means, such. as steam coils IS, and communicates with the dischargey side of a fan or blower 20 having an inlet or supply conduitZI, and driven by electric motor 22..

Within the chamber I2 is located an inclined deector 23.

When the blower is in operation, the air drawn into the fan is discharged through duct I3 over heating coils I 9 and the heated air passes through chamber I2, being deected upwardly by deiiector 23 through opening I 4 into the space within the hollow foraminous form, which it expands within a garment dressed or supported upon the form. The hot air passes out through the form and garment, thus drying the latter and raising its nap, all as is usual.

Steam may be supplied to the garment by way of a ported pipe or distributor '24, shown of ring form, communicating with a steam supply pipe 25 having a valve 26 operatable by foot treadle 21.

The suction or vacuum necessary to produce the holding, steaming and drying effects of the present invention may be obtained from any suitable source for the purpose, such as the suction side of a steam injector, vacuum pump or the like. For convenience and in no sense of limitation, I use the same blower 2c for this purpose, its intake side being connected by way of conduit 2| to suitable duct members communicating therewith. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, conduit 2l communicates with a curved duct 28 extending half way around the outside of iiange I4, said 4 duct communicating with two hollow holding members or arms, marked 29, 3i), respectively, one at the front and one at the back, although they may be located anywhere, depending upon the shape and character of the work. These ducts may be located either inside or outside of the foraminous form and are here outside of form I8.

Both holders are alike in the sense that each is a simple hollow sheet metal member provided with a foraminous front or exposed wall 3 I, made, for example, of wire mesh screen. The duct member is preferably enclosed within or its front is covered; by' a pervious fabric member 32. This provides. a moreY slip-proof surface for the coat edges, and also reduces steam condensation on the ducts..

Fig. 4 shows the bag I8 expanded or ballooned within the garment but extending around the back of the front holder 29, with abutting edges of a. garment 33- held against the foraminous front of the holder by atmospheric pressure preponderating over the reduced pressure or suction eiect within, the holder..

Similarly, the rear holder 3B. maintains the edges. of the split coat tails in appropriate alinement.

The foraminous section of holder 23 is shown somewhat Wider toward its upper end to cornpensate for theA distance from the source of suction and thereby secure more uniform pull upon the coat edges from top to bottom.

In. operation of this device, the garment is first dressed upon the form. with its edges laid over or upon the two holders. With the blower shut on', steam is supplied by operation of treadle Z1 to moisten thegarment. Then the steam is turned oil and the front and rear edges of the garment are carefully arrangedY or set upon the two holders. The blower is then started, with readjustment of the garment edges, if necessary. Air is drawn into the holders through the material of the garment and also, ordinarily, through any portions of the holders not garment covered. The suction effect holds the garment tightly against the surfaces of holders 29, 3D. The air ows to the fan and thence through duct I 3 and outwardly through the garment, thus drying and nishing it.

The device is veryr simple and convenient. n It dispenses with mechanical holders and clamps and leaves the garment edges fully exposed so they may be quickly adjusted. Drying is also facilitated.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another arrangement.

Here, the conduit I3 connecting the blower to the hot air chamber I2 has a lateral outlet 4Q, normally open, adapted to be closed by a pivoted shutter or damper 4I biased to open position, shown in Fig. 6, by a spring 42 and adapted to be moved to a position closing the outlet 40 by depression of a pivoted operating treadle 43 connected to the damper by link 44.

The blower is assumed, here, to run continuously. The garment is steamed with the outlet 4i] open, expanding the bag. When the garment is fully steamed, the steam valve is released and closes and treadle 43 is depressed to close damper 4I. Hot air then enters the bag and again expands it and then flows outwardly through the garment, drying it.

During the steaming operation air is sucked in to the hollow holding arms and draws with it some of the steam or vapour that has passed through the bag and garment in the regions of said arms, thus moistening those parts of the garment lying over the holders, and then flowing through the blower and to the outlet.

It should be observed, referring to Fig. 4, that the material of the bag is made full enough so that when expanded it balloons outwardly around and along both side faces of the holding arms into close contact with a garment dressed on said arms, so that the garment is uniformly supported over its entire area. When steaming, some steam passes into the spaces around the arms, between the bag and garment, and thus between the arms and the bag, and thus efficiently steams those edge portions of the garment which are supported by the holding arms. This is quite noticeable even when steaming is being accomplished while suction or vacuum is not effective or in operation.

Figs. 6 and '7 also show duct 2| provided with a self-accommodating pivoted valve or damper 45 cooperating with a lateral opening 46. This damper is provided with an arm carrying an adjustable weight 41, which is adjusted to such position as to hold the valve closed under normal conditions. However, if the thickness or texture of the garment, or the type of material, offer too much restriction or resistance, the valve automatically opens and relieves the fan of its over burden.

In the forms so far described the form, a flexible or collapsible fabric bag, does not enclose the holding members 29, 30, which lie outside of the bag. But said members may lie within the bag, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. Here the members 29, 30 are carried by a skeleton frame 50. The bag is indicated at I8. Member 29 is provided with a rigid foraminous facing 5I, made of wire mesh or perforated metal, and

the bag material is either cut away at this face, as in Fig. 13, or is continuous across it, as in Fig, 14. In the latter arrangement, while the fabric facing on the duct 29 may be of the same material as the rest of the bag, it preferably should be of material more rough in nature, to better hold the garment edges in place against the tangential or lateral pull exerted by the expanding bag. The bag may be stitched in place along the edges of the holder, as indicated at 52.

In Fig. 8, the rigid form IBa is made of wire mesh or perforated sheet metal and serves as the support for the holding members or ducts 29, 30, which are inside of the form, as shown in Fig. 10. In the base I0 are mounted the steaming valve operated by treadle 21 and controlling ow to the steam distributor 24a, here a perforate hollow ball.

f A n type heater I9 heats the air stream discharged from blower 20 through channel I2 past deflect/or 23 to the chamber within form |8a. Blower intake duct 2| communicates by curved channel 28 with the two holding ducts 29, 30.

Channel l2 is provided with a lateral outlet opening 4|] with which cooperates a vane or damper 4l actuatable through link 44 by treadle 43, a latch 53 permitting the damper to be releasably maintained in raised position, with the outlet opening 40 closed.

When the damper is in lowered position, as shown, damper 4i blocks off flow of air to the form chamber and directs it through opening 40 to atmosphere. Under such conditions the blower may be operated continuously, providing an effective source of suction for producing in-draft of steam to members 29, 30 while steaming, and

by lifting damper 4| providing full blower effect to the form chamber during drying, together with the vacuum effect through ducts 29, 30.

rIn all forms, the garment edges are quickly and easily adjusted and those portions are efciently treated by the indrawn steam, vapour and air which emanates from surrounding areas. In addition, .the garment edges are held rmly against displacement, preserving any desired or established lay. No special or extragarment clamps are necessary. The mechanism also is simple, easy to operate and durable in operation.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted in a region of the form beneath a part of the garment supported thereon, conduit means for supplying gaseous medium under pressure to the space within the form, means for simultaneously producing a suction effect within said holding member, and means whereby the suction effect within said holding member is effective upon the adjacent area of the garment for garment holding purposes.

2. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted in a region of the form beneath a part of the garment supported thereon, said holding member having a foraminous portion adjacent such part of said garment, conduit means for supplying gaseous medium under pressure to the space within the form, and -suction means simultaneously communicating with the space within said holding member, to thereby cause that part of the garment overlying the foraminous portion of the holding member toI be held thereagainst.

3. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted in a region of the form beneath a part of the garment, conduit means for supplying gaseous medium under pressure to the space within the form, .said holding member having a foraminous outer face over which a portion of the garment is dressed, and means for simultaneously producing a suction effect within said member, to thereby hold the garment against the foraminous outer facethereof.

4. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted in a region of the form beneath a part of the garment, said holding member having a foraminous outer face over which such part of the garment is dressed, and means for supplying heated gaseous medium to the space within said form and for simultaneously producing a suction effect within said holding member, the suction effect serving to retain the garmentagainst the foraminous outer face of the holding member.

5. Garment nishing apparatus, comprising a hollowfforaminous form upon which a garment maybe supported, and means for causing the flow of a gaseous treating medium through a garment so supported simultaneously in one direction through one part of the garment and in the opposite direction through another part of the garment.

'6.v Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a hollow iorammous form upon which an upper body garment may be supported, means for causing the ilow of moist air outwardly through the body portion of a garment so supported, and means for simultaneously applying a suction eiect to the inside surface of edge portions of the garment to draw through them moist air emanating from the external surface of surrounding portions of the body portion of the garment.

7. Garment nishing apparatus, comprising a hollow chambered foraminous yform upon which a garment may be dressed, a blower, and two conduits respectively connected to the inlet and outlet sides of the blower, the two conduits having portions which respectively underlie and are eiective upon different portions of a garment supported upon the form.

8. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a hollow chambered foraminous form upon which a garment may be dresse-d, a blower, two conduits respectively connected to the inlet and outlet sides of the blower, the two conduits having portions which respectively underlie and are effective upon diierent portions of a garment supported upon the form, and means yfor supplying moisture laden air to the chamber within said form.

9. Garment nnishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted externally of the form in a region of the form beneath a part of the garment, said holding member having a foraminous outer face over which a portion of the garment is applied, and a source of suction communicating with the space within said holding member.

1G. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted internally of the form in a region of the forni beneath a part of the garment, said holding member having a foraminous outer face over which a portion of the garment is applied, and a source of suction communicating with the space within said holding member.

1l. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a hollow chambered foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member provided with a fora-minous front face and mounted in a region of the form with its said face underlying a part of the garment, a continuously operating blower having its suction side communicating with the space within said holding mein-ber, and means for supplying steam to the chamber within.

l2. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a hollow chambers-d foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member provided with a foraminous front face and mounted in a region of the form with its said face underlying a part of the garment, a continuously operating blower having its suction side communicating with the space within said holding member, means for supplying steam to the chamber within, and conduit means communicating with the discharge side of said blower and provided with means for directing the air stream discharged therefrom into the chamber of said form.

13.` Garment nnishing apparatus, comprising a hollow chambered foraminous form upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member provided with a foraminous front face and mounted in a region of the form with its said face underlying a part of the garment, a continuously operating blower having its suction side communicating with the space within said holding member, means for supplying steam to the chamber within, and conduit means communicating with the discharge side of said blower and provided with means for directing the air stream discharged therefrom selectively either to atmosphere or to the chamber of said form.

14. The method of finishing garments, consisting in dressing the garment in the desired lay upon a foraminous form simulating the desired garment shape, and while the garment is so supported causing the flow through certain areas thereof in one direction of a gaseous treating medium, and simultaneously causing the flow through other areas thereof but in the opposite direction of a gaseous treating medium.

15. The method of nishing garments, consisting in dressing the garment in the desired lay upon a forarninous form simulating the desired garment shape, and while the garment is so supported causing the flow through certain areas thereof in one direction of a moisture bearing gas, and simultaneously causing the iiow through other areas thereof but in the opposite direction of a mixture of air and the same moisture bearing gas emanating from surrounding space.

16. The method of finishing upper body garments, consisting in dressing the garment in the desired lay upon a foraminous form simulating the desired garment shape, and while the garment is so supported causing the flow of steam outwardly through the body portion of the garment, and simultaneously causing the flow inwardly through edge portions of the garment of a mixture of air and steam emanating from surrounding regions of the garment.

17. The method of nnishing upper body garments, consisting in dressing the garment in the desired lay upon a foraminous form simulating the desired garment shape, and while the garment is so supported causing the iiow of steam outwardly through the body portion of the garment, simultaneously causing the flow inwardly throughedge portions of the garment of a mixture of air and steam emanating from surrounding regions of the garment, and then causing the flow of a stream of drying air inwardly through the edge portions of the garment and then outwardly through its body portion.

18. Garment nishing apparatus, comprising a hollow foraminous form upon which substantially the entire area of a garment may be dressed for finishing treatment, a hollow holding member mounted in a region of the form and having a foraminous outer face beneath a relatively small area of the garment, and a source of suction communicating with the space within said holding member and producing a suctional holding effect on that part of the garment which overlies the foraminous outer face of said holding member.

19. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a hollow foraminous form upon which a garment may be dressed for finishing treatment, hollow holding members mounted in the region of the form in opposed relationship and having foraminous outer faces beneath parts of the garment, and means for producing suctional effects within said holding members for the retention of the garment on said form.

20. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a support, a hollow forarninous exible bag upon which a garment may be supported, a hollow holding member mounted externally of the bag in a region beneath 'a'- part of the garment, conduit means for supplying gaseous medium under pressure to the space within the bag, said holding member having alv foraminous outer face upon which a portion ofthe garment is dressed, and means for producing a suction effect with said holding member.

JULIAN C. SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of lrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date I Thurnauer May 5, 1925 Lendle Dec. 20, 1938 Shaw Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Nov. 9, 1928 

